Opposition lawmaker might be stripped of immunity

August 02, 2012, 13:08 UTC+3Checks by the Investigative Committee found Gennady Gudkov engages in illegal entrepreneursh in Bulgaria

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MOSCOW, August 2 (Itar-Tass) — Checks by the Investigative Committee /SK/ found that A Just Russia member, one of the active participants in the protest movement Gennady Gudkov, engages in illegal entrepreneurship in Bulgaria. Gudkov might be stripped of lawmaker's immunity. Gudkov sees the SK's actions as politically motivated and explains them by his criticism of the authorities and active participation in protests.

Investigators obtained information during a check /which was confirmed by tax bodies/ about Gudkov's illegal entrepreneurial activities involving both Russian commercial organizations and non-resident firms /English Village, registered in Bulgaria/, and Business Consulting Limited registered in Gibraltar's offshore zone, the Komsomolskaya Pravda cites the SK report. The checks confirmed the fact of Gudkov's direct participation in running the above non-resident companies that engage in acquiring and building expensive real estate facilities by using funds of Business Security Consulting Limited, of which Gudkov's wife is a participant.

Gudkov notes that he "was offered many times one way out - I had to renounce my views and repent," he but did not, the RBK Daily writes. "Today, they decided to take revenge upon me. But I would note that they are mocking not only me, but also Ksenia Sobchak, taking her funds whose circulation is not banned, concocting an ignominious case against Navalny and convicting Udaltsov," the parliamentarian said. He believes the authorities have begun mass political reprisals to rid the country of the Opposition. "The authorities act without any principles or morals. Themselves, the authorities act by the code of the underworld, yet they demand that people abide by law," Gudkov said.

Stripping Gennady Gudkov of immunity requires half of 450 lawmakers' votes; the decision might be passed by votes of United Russia alone, as it holds 238 mandates, the Kommersant notes. Deputy house speaker from United Russia Sergei Zehelznyak stated that his faction would support the initiative if the prosecutor's office has facts confirming Gudkov's illegal business. "Our colleagues have repeatedly demanded that Mr Gudkov's activity be checked," he noted. The Liberal Democratic Party might support prosecutors, too.